Pine Barrens of New Jersey

The Pine Barrens, also known as the Pinelands, are a heavily forested region in southern New Jersey, covering one-third of the state’s total area. Sandwiched between the Philadelphia and New York City metro areas, the Pine Barrens remain surprisingly rural and undeveloped with more than one million acres of open space. The region contains a diverse spectrum of plant life and offers opportunities for camping, hiking, boating, fishing, and hunting that can’t be found in the more populated areas. (from https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Pine_Barrens)

Upside down abandoned rail car in the Pine Barrens. A railroad probably ran through this area at one time, as there were many railroads when the area was at its peak of industry.

Spring sky in the Pine Barrens.

Pine Barrens lake.

Bog in the Pine Barrens.

Another abandoned rail car in the Pine Barrens.

Vine taking over tree. I am unable to find out what type of vine this is.

Cedar water.

Cedar water. This article in the Princeton Magazine gives a description of what causes the ice tea color of the water in the rivers and stream of the Pine Barrens.

More abandoned rail cars.

Closer view of cedar water.

Cranberry bogs. Cranberries and blue berries are a big industry in the Pine Barrens.

Street in Batsto Village. Batsto is an historic New Jersey village. It was a center at one time for the bog iron industry. For more information on this interesting village, click here.

Batsto Village horses and carriage.

Wharton Mansion Batsto Village.

Wharton Mansion Batsto Village.

Bog iron.

Batsto Village barn.

Emilio Carranza memorial near Tabernacle, New Jersey. He was a Mexican pilot at the time of Charles Lindbergh, and in 1928 was attempting to fly from Mexico City to New York City and back.

The inscription reads: “Messenger of Peace. The people of Mexico hope that your high ideals will be realized. Homage of the children of Mexico to the aviator captain Emilio Carranza who died tragically on July 12th 1928 in his good will flight.”